Jack Franks nominates Steve Doherty for County Board District 4 seat

Board to take vote on appointment Tuesday

McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks has nominated a McHenry man with four decades of financial experience to fill a vacant District 4 seat.

His name is Steve Doherty and he spent the past 15 years working as controller for Cary-based Sherman Mechanical. Before that, he spent three years as assistant vice president of finance at McHenry County College.

“I want you to know how impressed I am with Steve,” Franks said at Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.

Doherty, a fourth-generation McHenry resident, took the lectern and shared some words with the board, which will vote on his appointment Tuesday.

“The most frequent question I’ve been getting is, ‘Why do you want to be appointed to the District [4] seat?’” Doherty said. “I’ve always wanted to get more involved in public service and give back to the community.”

Doherty found a way to do that as a member of the zoning board in the city of McHenry and as a coach on his sons’ sports teams.

“Now as an empty nester and established in my career, I feel that it’s time to give back, and what better way than to serve on the County Board?” Doherty said. “I’ve always been in some form of management and accounting and finance ... I have the background and experience that could be of value to the board. I’m comfortable tackling a problem and finding common ground solutions.”

He asked for the support of the board.

Doherty attended the swearing-in ceremony for the board’s new members Monday and described the energy in the room as “positive.”

“I want to be part of it,” Doherty said.

The board will vote on Doherty’s appointment at 7 p.m. Tuesday at 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.